Sheffield mum-to-be at wits’ end after being rejected for her jab four times in spite of midwives telling her to get vaccinated

Louise Warburton, 30, is 26-weeks-pregnant and works as a cleaner in the houses of vulnerable elderly people.

She has been told by two midwives and her consultant at Jessops Wing in Sheffield that she needs to get the jab as she in vulnerable due to her pregnancy and her job. Louise also receved a letter from the Government telling her to get vaccinated due to her work.

However, she has taken these signed letters of consent to four different vaccination centres – sometimes travelling for hours in a day as appointments are not always available in Sheffield – only to get turned away every time.

“I was turned away at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday, at Mansfield on Sunday, at a different Mansfield one on Wednesday and today I was turned away at Hathersage,” Louise said.

"The fourth time when I got turned away I just sat there and cried.

"It is so frustrating that I keep going and four people have turned me away in spite of my consent letter, and not explained why other than that I am pregnant.

"My midwife has now told me to book again and I’ve had to book a slot for tomorrow in Alfreton, but she said there’s a chance I will get turned away.

"My midwife said she is gobsmacked at how I have been treated.

"Until I have my jab I have had to cut down on my work and I am scared going out to pick my children up from school and nursery.”

A spokesperson for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Jessops Wing and the Sheffield Arena vaccination centre, has confirmed the Trust is looking into Louise’s case.

The latest JCVI advice says that although the available data do not indicate any safety concern or harm to pregnancy, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine use of vaccines during pregnancy.

Prgenant women are supposed to be able to get their vaccine if their midwives and consultants approve it and issue a letter of consent.